Up until the '90s, Vesterbro was known as Copenhagen's red-light district, with a reputation for clandestine activities. It has since transformed into the lively, creative hot spot we know and love today. Vesterbro is located to the west of the city centre, you can walk or bike downtown in less than five minutes.
How to act in the Red Light District. For years the Red Light District was a rough place to visit but after the legalisation of prostitution in 2000, the efforts of authorities have ensured that it has become a safe and vibrant place for tourists to visit.
It is a very safe place. Of course there is crime, but in general there is no unsafe neighborhoods. In my experience the most "unsafe" areas are where people are drunk, that means Strøget, Rådhuspladsen and Gothersgade thursday, friday and saturday night.
Nightlife and Redlight District in Copenhagen Denmark
What is the illegal district in Copenhagen?
Freetown Christiania. Freetown Christiania (Danish: Fristaden Christiania), also known as Christiania or simply Staden, is an intentional community and anarchist commune in the Christianshavn neighbourhood of the Danish capital city of Copenhagen. It began in 1971 as a squatted military base.
In most cases, red-light districts are particularly associated with female street prostitution, though in some cities, these areas may coincide with spaces of male prostitution and gay venues. Areas in many big cities around the world have acquired an international reputation as red-light districts.
An experimental "managed" prostitution zone was set up in Holbeck, Leeds to allow prostitutes to work in a designated area between 7 pm and 7 am without the risk of prosecution. It was made permanent in January 2016 and the BBC made the documentary series Sex, Drugs & Murder: Life in the Red Light Zone about the zone.
Copenhagen and Stockholm have low crime rates compared to many other cities, but petty crime such as pickpocketing and bag snatching continues to increase, especially in tourist areas and during the summer months.
Yes, Copenhagen ranks among Europe's pricier cities—but strategic choices can make it affordable. For 2025, budget travelers can manage €80–100/day, while mid-range visitors spend €150–250/day.
Where is the biggest red light district in Europe?
There are actually three red light districts in Amsterdam, though the biggest and most famous of all is De Wallen. Located just southeast of Centraal Station in the Centrum, De Wallen is a warren of medieval alleyways with three main streets that sit on and around the parallel neon-lit canals.
If you're staying close to the city center, you'll be able to go anywhere on foot. The area 100-200 metres west of the Central Station is a minor red light district and you might encounter public prostitution there.
The infamous red light district and former working-class area of Copenhagen, Vesterbro, is actually one of the hippest areas in the Danish capital. As early as back in 2001, Wallpaper magazine proclaimed Vesterbro Copenhagen's hippest quarter, and in 2014 it made no.
The Soho area has been at the heart of London's sex industry since 1778 when the first brothel was opened. Before the Street Offences Act 1959 became law, street prostitutes worked in Piccadilly Circus and the streets and alleys around Soho.
Running 13.1 km (8.1 mi) parallel to the famous Vienna Ring Road, it encompasses the inner city districts (Innenbezirke) and follows the route of the former Linienwall outer fortification. The city's red-light district is situated around the Gürtel.
The “blue light” reference comes from the blue-tinted lights used in some windows to indicate transgender workers, in contrast to the traditional red lights used for female sex workers. Like the Red Light District, the Blue Light District is regulated.
Today, the 36 ha (89 acres; 0.14 sq mi) Kabukichō district has all the hallmarks of a red-light district, with over three thousand bars, nightclubs, love hotels, massage parlours, and hostess clubs.
There are no formal guidelines in existence in terms of STD testing. However, many clubs and brothels choose to have their sex workers screened regularly to protect them and their customers.
Even though Copenhagen records a very low crime rate - and is a quite safe place to be and live - pocket thieves operate in crowded tourist areas - where the risk of being a victim for these sneaky criminals is higher on the Pedestrian Street “Strøget” - and the area around the Central Station and in S-Trains - as well ...
Nørrebro is known for its multicultural community. The multiethnic main street Nørrebrogade runs through the area, with a multitude of shops and restaurants.
Croatia safest country in Europe to walk at night. For the second year in a row, the World of Statistics has ranked Croatia at the top of a survey of 41 European countries for personal safety at night. The crime rates here remain low despite a significant rise in tourism since the pandemic.